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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
MARTIN 80TH ON STAGE 3 OF VUELTA AL PAIS VASCO
By Shane Stokes
4 Apr 2012,
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Irish rider Dan Martin had another quiet day at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco today, rolling in 80th on the 164 kilometre mountain stage from Vitoria Gasteiz to Santuario Arrate.
First to the line was Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi), who outsprinted Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan). The trio broke clear on the final climb and then raced down the short two kilometre descent to the finish, where they fought it out for the day’s honours.
They finished twelve seconds ahead of a group led home by Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) and world time trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step).
Earlier, Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ-BigMat) and Mads Christensen (Saxo Bank) succeeded in opening a gap twenty kilometres after the start. They were chased and soon joined by Jose Herrada Lopez (Movistar Team), Antonio Piedra Perez (Caja Rural) and Davide Mucelli (Utensilnord).
On the later climb of the Alto de Ascentzio (km 62.6), Herrida and Christensen pushed ahead of the others. Veikkanen later returned, but he and Christensen were dropped by Herrida on the first category Alto de Ixua.
The latter pushed onwards and over the summit of the second category climb of San Miguel, then was caught by the Katusha pairing of Angel Vicioso and Giampaolo Caruso. They dropped him eight kilometres from the line and tried to stay clear, but were reeled in by the dwindling peloton before the final fireworks started.
Sanchez has taken over the race lead from Spanish champion Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), who was dropped today. He is level on time with Horner and Rodriguez heading into tomorrow’s mountain stage to the top of Bera-Ibardin.
Martin is 86th overall. He said at the start of the race that he hadn’t recovered from the Volta a Catalunya, where he was fourth.
His main goal in riding the race is to prepare for the Ardennes Classics.
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Vuelta al Pais Vasco (WorldTour) stage 3 Result: Vitoria Gasteiz to Santuario Arrate (Eibar), 164km:
1, Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi)
2, Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha)
3, Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan)
4, Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) at 12 seconds
5, Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD)
6, Tony Martin (Omega Pharma Quick Step)
7, Michele Scarponi (Lampre ISD)
8, Sergio Luis Henao (Sky Procycling)
9, Kiserlovski (Astana)
10, Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky Procycling) all same time
Irish:
80, Dan Martin (Garmin Barracuda) at 6 mins 43 secs
General classification:
1, Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi)
2, Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan)
3, Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha)
4, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda) at 12 seconds
5, Wout Poels (Vacansoleil DCM)
6, Damiano Cunego (Lampre ISD) both same time
Irish:
86, Dan Martin (Garmin Barracuda) at 8 mins 57 secs
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